Chapter 203
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 203
The day of the Academy Festival had finally arrived.
Inside the Eredor Hall of Truth, where the Alchemy Club’s laboratory was located, I stood beside Ciel and looked out the window, clicking my tongue.
“That’s… an incredible number of people.”
“Indeed it is.”
A literal sea of humanity filled the Union grounds.
For days leading up to the festival, merchant ships and luxury liners had been docking nonstop at the five harbors of the Meteor Archipelago, including Stella Harbor. Now, a massive crowd had descended upon the island, filling every nearby hotel and inn to absolute capacity.
If the Sports Festival is for the students, the Academy Festival is a festival for the entire continent.
Truly, a diverse cast of characters had converged on Union.
First, there were the parents of the students, most of whom were lords governing their own territories. When factoring in their guards and entourages, a single family’s group could number in the dozens. Then there were the merchants and porters from every corner of the continent, unwilling to miss such a peak business season. Spectators from all over had also been drawn in by the renown of the festivities.
Finally, there were the great scholars of the age and mages dispatched from the various Magic Towers, all here to participate in the academic conferences and the Olympiad held during the festival.
The Meteor Archipelago was practically bursting at the seams. The spice market at Stella Harbor would be packed to the gills, and shops like Watermelon Books were undoubtedly raking in a windfall.
Watching the scene, I turned to Trish, who was standing nearby.
“What are your thoughts, Trish?”
Trish giggled, stirring a mixture with practiced ease.
“Hehe, I can practically hear the sound of money rolling in.”
To her, the crowds visiting the Meteor Archipelago must have looked like walking bundles of cash.
She’s not entirely wrong.
I consulted a map in the Union guide booklet to gauge our positioning. The booth our Alchemy Club had secured was in section A-4 of the central avenue, right in front of Union’s main gate. Excluding the official booths for Union, the Magic Towers, the academic conference organizers, and the tourist information center, it was the most prominent position available.
A true prime spot.
Not only that, but we had also set up an additional booth in front of the Voltimir Stadium entrance, allowing us to run our business with a literal dual-core setup. We could expect massive profits.
Ciel glanced at the stadium drawn on the map and commented, “In any case, you managed to get it finished on time.”
“Well, there’s not much you can’t do if you throw enough money at it.”
Thankfully, Voltimir Stadium had been completed just before the festival. It had a staggering capacity of 100,000 people. The structure was even larger than Union’s Grand Auditorium—previously the largest building on campus—and Ishtal’s Grand Stadium, which had formerly boasted the highest capacity.
It was an eco-friendly stadium where steel, concrete, and spirit magic were harmoniously intertwined. I had heard that for each event, the spirits within the stadium could be commanded to alter the very structure of the arena.
Thanks to my timely provision of funds and raw materials, the construction was a resounding success. The spirit users, mages, and laborers who had been mobilized for the project would soon be transferred wholesale to the construction of the new academy I was establishing. Since I had also arranged to take over their construction equipment and magical tools, the pace of that project would be even faster.
As I studied the map, Ciel handed me another booklet.
“This is the festival schedule. Please take a look.”
“A schedule, huh? There’s a lot going on.”
I opened the booklet and scanned the contents. The festival was set to run for a full week. Unlike the Sports Festival, which was a modest affair focused on inter-school competitions and a few club booths, this was a much more serious event.
It would begin with an opening ceremony featuring commemorative speeches from the Chairman and the patrons of the Four Great Academies. Emperor Marcus of Cassandra, Wodanaz of Gunhild, Ariel of the Sea People’s Alliance, and Pope Benedicto were all scheduled to attend.
Following that were academic conferences where students would present their research from the past year, as well as a Magic Olympiad hosted by the seven Magic Towers. There was also a corporate fair attended by the continent’s merchant guilds to recruit students, and even preliminary tests hosted by the various knight orders.
It was a lineup truly befitting a festival for the entire continent.
As I reviewed the schedule, Ciel asked cautiously, “Do you have anything planned?”
“I think I’ll be participating in most of it.”
As the Student Council President, I had to at least show my face at the opening ceremony where all the bigwigs would be. I also had to attend the academic conference because of the Alchemy Club. The same went for the Magic Olympiad. I had given the invitation I received from Professor Martelzier to Bell, so this time I planned to participate as a sponsor.
My goal was to recruit faculty for my new academy.
The Magic Olympiad is a gathering of the continent’s most renowned scholars and intellectuals.
It was the perfect place to scout professors, as there were many talented gems who had yet to be recognized by the mainstream academic world. I had already identified a few individuals, so I intended to use this opportunity to recruit them.
The corporate fair was a given as well. I was planning to select a merchant guild to distribute the new brand of carbonated drinks I was launching. If that didn't work out, I could always contact the Golden Elephant Guild through Garfield or create a distribution network through the Lombard Merchant Guild.
As I listed my schedule, Trish, who was still stirring her mixture, spoke up.
“Why are you so busy? Aren’t you going to enjoy the festival? You’re only young once, you know.”
“I do plan on having some fun. Ciel, are you participating in anything?”
“Yes, I’ve opened a cafe that makes use of my professional skills.”
“A maid cafe?”
“That’s right. Voltimir is hosting one. Lady Kiriel is also participating. She asked for my advice, so I decided to take part as a special guest.”
“Hoh.”
A maid cafe. It would be fun to go and tease Kiriel. I added it to my mental schedule.
I continued to gather opinions from the Alchemy Club members, marking down booths worth visiting. We chatted for a while longer as we prepared the mixtures for the carbonated drinks.
Three hours before the opening ceremony, I checked the time and gathered the members.
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes!” the members of the Alchemy Club shouted in unison.
Their eyes shone with grim determination, as if they had been waiting for this day and this day alone.
“Good. With this festival as our starting point, the name of our Alchemy Club will spread throughout the continent. We will be known as the wealthiest and most outstanding club. You will be able to graduate from Union comfortably without a stipend, and you will have a massive advantage when seeking employment at a Magic Tower or other institutions afterward.”
“Yes, sir!”
A comfortable academy life and a guaranteed career path. For students, there was no greater motivation.
“Then let’s go.”
*
The sky was clear, and a cool breeze blew across the island.
Wodanaz, the Thunder Sword—master of the winter castle that guarded the northern front and head of the Gunhild family—was heading toward the stadium for the opening ceremony, accompanied by his retinue.
The street in front of the stadium was as vibrant as a marketplace. Colorful balloons floated in the air, and the flags of all nations fluttered in the wind.
“Get your cotton candy here!”
“Take a pamphlet and get a free benefit stamp!”
“Telescopes for sale!”
“Come have a refreshing carbonated drink!”
The area was filled with the voices of hawkers competing for attention. Wodanaz let out a small sigh at the sight.
“Peaceful. Too peaceful. Is this truly Union, the place that raises talents to fight the demonkin?”
What was Union’s founding principle? Upon what foundation was it built? It was a symbol of the united human front, built after subjugating the Dark Archipelago that had once teemed with monsters. Union was a sacred place built on blood and sweat.
But now, it had degenerated into a den of merchants.
Everyone had become corrupted by the long peace. Looking at the scene, he could only sigh. When he had visited Ishtal for Freya’s entrance ceremony, it hadn’t been this bad.
His head butler, standing beside him, offered some cautious advice.
“My lord, Union is not a barracks but an academy for young students. And today is a joyous festival, is it not? Please, look upon it with a generous eye.”
“Hmph. One cannot survive with such a weak mindset. The situation here is only slightly better than on the western and northern fronts, but there is no truly safe place on this continent. We must always prepare for the coming battle.”
Even now, a war against monsters was raging at the continent’s edge. This fact remained unchanged, even if those inside the great walls chose to forget it. But most were drunk on peace, content with the status quo, and some were nothing but a bunch of fucking idiots who turned their blades on each other.
The only ones truly preparing for the coming battle, fighting the real war, were the Gunhilds and the Devalis family on the western front. It was for this reason that he had pursued a marriage alliance with the Devalis family, but…
…that doesn’t mean I can hand Freya over to a worthless punk.
Roen Devalis.
At first, he had thought the boy was quite decent, but his judgment had been wrong. To think he would turn into such a degenerate in such a short time. He could not allow Freya to be tied to such a man. A wife with a good-for-nothing husband is bound to be unhappy.
He’d raised her so preciously she’d never even set foot in a kitchen.
Well, I did make her grip a sword until her palms were raw, but that’s different.
That was a matter of course for a knightly family. Cherishing his daughter was a separate matter from putting her through rigorous training.
While Wodanaz was fuming, his butler stopped by a nearby booth and bought a drink. It was a carbonated beverage made by the Alchemy Club, and it was surprisingly delicious for its low price.
The butler’s eyes widened as he looked at the label wrapped around the cup.
“Hoh, the taste is unique. A refreshing flavor, as if southern fruits have been blended together. It’s cool and zesty.”
“…”
His curiosity piqued, Wodanaz said, “Give me one.”
“I bought a few just in case. Please, try it.”
Wodanaz cautiously tasted the drink, then his expression soured.
“It’s too sweet.”
Compared to the strong liquor he drank in the north, this was nothing more than a child’s treat. But it wasn’t that it tasted bad. Wodanaz drained the cup in one go and headed inside the stadium.
His assigned seat was, of course, in the VVIP section. Wodanaz sat in the distinguished guest area and looked around. Many familiar faces were already seated.
“All familiar faces, I see.”
Emperor Marcus and the heads of his vassal states. The chieftains of the Sea People’s Alliance, led by the High Elf Ariel. Pope Benedicto and his cardinals. The representative faces of the continent were all gathered in one place.
They weren’t exactly welcome sights, but Wodanaz exchanged pleasantries to maintain diplomatic relations. However, it seemed King Kaim of the Knight Kingdom of Gilbert had not come to the festival. There had been some strange rumors lately; he wondered if this absence was related.
After the greetings, he sat and waited. Soon, the opening ceremony began.
It started with an elf, the president of Voltimir, coming out to recite an oath. A grand orchestral performance followed, along with eye-pleasing shows by theater troupes invited from all over the continent.
However, instead of being captivated by the performances, Wodanaz sat with his arms crossed, silently scanning the people seated in the stadium one by one. He passed the time by identifying those with outstanding ki or martial talent and gauging their abilities. It was an occupational hazard; he had always been in the business of discovering and training talent for the front lines.
The opening ceremony continued. After Chairman Hengard Ubelon’s speech, a student ascended the stage.
Pale skin and black hair. A star was pinned to his uniform collar. He was a male student who looked somewhat tired, yet was handsome enough to steal one’s gaze in an instant.
An aide at Wodanaz's side whispered, “My lord, isn’t that Roen?”
“…”
Wodanaz silently shifted his gaze to Roen.
*
“Me, sir?”
In the waiting room of the stadium, the opening ceremony was in full swing. While the outside was noisy with grand music and the applause of the audience, the Chairman had just made an unexpected proposal, insisting that I give a speech.
“Yes, there is no one more suited to be the student representative than you, Roen. Isn’t that what the position of Student Council President is for? If you feel burdened, just say a few words of blessing and come down. Hoho.”
“…”
The Student Council President as the student representative. He had a point, but to demand a commemorative speech so suddenly… the old man definitely had a mischievous side.
In this awkward situation, Ciel spoke up as if to reassure me.
“Lord Roen, please go with a light heart. It’s not as if you have any more reputation to lose.”
Ciel offered her "advice" while picking specks of dust off my clothes one by one. It was a little infuriating, but she was right. Although my infamy had faded slightly within Union recently, it was a negligible change when looking at the continent as a whole. In the eyes of the public, I was still Roen the scoundrel.
Therefore, I realized that if I delivered this speech successfully, it would be a gain—and if I failed, it wouldn’t be a loss.
No.
Since it has come to this, I should use this as an opportunity to leave a good impression.
I clenched my fist and accepted the Chairman’s proposal.
“Understood. I’ll do my best.”
“Hoho, excellent. You’re on right after my speech, Roen, so please get ready.”
And with that, I followed the Chairman out of the waiting room.